HYPOTHERMIA
Anyone participating in water sports
should be aware of the danger of hypothermia.
The subject was covered in Section 11.
PROPELLER STRIKES
A typical recreational propeller can travel
from head to toe on an average person in
less than one tenth of a second.
Most propeller accidents CAN be
prevented!
1. Wear your engine cut-off switch lanyard
and your life jacket at ALL times. If the
lanyard is removed from the switch, the
engine will shut off.
2. Assign a passenger to keep watch around
the propeller area of your boat when
people are in the water.
3. Consider purchasing propeller safety
devices for your boat.
Safety Tips
• Before starting your boat, walk to the
stern and look in the water to make certain
there is no one near your propeller
(people near propeller may not be visible
from helm).
• Never allow passengers to board or exit
your boat from the water when engines
are on—or idling (your propeller may
continue to spin).
• Educate passengers about the location
and danger of the propellers.
• Call attention to and discuss any propeller
warning labels around your boat.
• Be especially alert when operating in congested
areas and never enter swimming
zones.
• Take extra precautions near boats that are
towing skiers or tubers.
• Never permit passengers to ride on the
bow, gunwale, transom, seatbacks, or
other locations where they might fall
overboard.
• Children should be watched carefully
while onboard.
• Establish clear rules for swim platform
use, boarding ladders, and seating (if possible,
passengers should remain seated at
all times).
• If someone falls overboard, STOP! Then
slowly turn the boat around, and keep the
person in sight as you approach. Assign
a passenger to continuously monitor the
person in the water.
• Turn your engine off FIRST and then
bring the person to safety.
• Never reverse your boat to pick someone
up out of the water. Go around again.
Safety Devices
A variety of safety devices are available to
help prevent propeller strikes:
• Wireless cut-off switches
• Propeller guards
• Ringed propellers
• Propulsion alternatives
• Interlocks
• Sensors
• Anti-feedback steering
158 Chapter Four
Figure 13-5. Paddle boat outside channel
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